Kristen Waagbo enters her second season with the Duke coaching staff after returning to her alma mater as an assistant coach during the summer of 2012.

A balanced Blue Devil attack averaged 12.40 goals per game in 2013 under Waagbo’s leadership, with Kerrin Maurer ranking second in the ACC in assists (35) and Makenzie Hommel fourth in goals per contest (2.75). Maurer and midfielder Taylor Trimble both garnered spots on the all-region team while Hommel, Maurer and Trimble were all named to the All-ACC squad.

Waagbo returned to Durham after serving as an assistant coach at the U.S. Naval Academy, where her responsibilities included overseeing the development of the squad’s offense. During Waagbo’s two years in Annapolis, Navy recorded a ledger of 33-9, captured two Patriot League Championships and made back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Tournament. In their first season as a Division I program in 2011, the Mids totaled 275 goals while averaging 13.10 goals per contest. The 2012 campaign saw the team set a Patriot League record with 306 goals.

Prior to her arrival in Annapolis, Waagbo previously spent one season as the top assistant at UC Davis, helping the Aggies become one of the most improved teams in the country in 2010. After going 6-12 in 2009, the team improved to 11-6 and advanced to the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation semifinals. Waagbo directed an offense which improved from 10.06 goals per contest in 2009 to 14.06 goals per contest in 2010.

Waagbo also spent two seasons as a volunteer assistant coach at Navy in 2008 and 2009, guiding the Mids to the Patriot League Championship game in just their second year as a program.

A gifted attacker on the Blue Devils’ front line, Waagbo completed a standout playing career at Duke, twice earning All-America honors. She is the program’s all-time career assists leader (116) and tallied 277 points over four seasons, which ranks second all-time behind 2005 Tewaaraton winner Katie Chrest. Waagbo is also tied for fourth on Duke’s all-time charts with 161 career goals.

As a senior in 2007, Waagbo set a Duke record with 44 assists and recorded a career-best 90 points in just 20 games (4.5 points per game). She finished the season as a first team All-American and was a semifinalist for the Tewaaraton award. Waagbo guided the Blue Devils to an overall record of 64-17 (.790) during her four-year career, as well as four regular season Atlantic Coast Conference crowns, one ACC Tournament title and three NCAA Final Four appearances.

Waagbo earned her bachelor’s degree in cultural anthropology with a concentration in markets and management studies from Duke.

A native of Ellicott City, Md., Waagbo led her Mount Hebron High School team to four consecutive state titles. She was also a member of the U.S. Under-19 squad that captured the 2003 World Championship. Waagbo was inducted into the Howard County Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.